To join the BAEDT, the joint British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) / British Veterinary Dental Association (BVDA) Dental examination must be passed.The BAEDT is the only professional organisation recognised by BEVA, its members having the same professional and ethical standards as itself. Owners are often confused about who is qualified and who is not and mistakenly think that training or qualifications gained abroad are valid in this country. Additionally, most of the organisations that are not recognised by BEVA can be joined by anyone, simply by paying a yearly fee.
The process of qualifying to join the BAEDT is as follows:
1.The candidate must attend a 2 day Advanced Theory Course, and to do this, a CV and 2 veterinary references are required. A year after this course, the candidate will be eligible to sit the exam.
2.At least 300 Case Studies must be submitted to the examiners, including at least 40 where advanced procedures were undertaken and these must have been signed by the attending vet.
3.The candidate then has to work for a period of time with a qualified Equine Dental Technician.This person must then give them a reference and will also be asked independently whether they think the candidate has a good chance of passing the exam.
4.The examiners then hold a meeting where the documentation of each candidate is assessed to see that it is of the required standard.Successful candidates will then be offered a place on the exam.
5.The exam itself consists of three parts
a. Theory – 2 papers covering anatomy, physiology, microbiology, prevention of disease, legislation, dental anatomy, dental disorders and treatment.
b. 2 Spot Examinations
- The first one covering equine dental instruments, anatomical specimens, dental photographs, dental specimens and skulls.
- The second one consists of examining three skulls and charting dental abnormalities.
c.Practical – A 1 hour examination performed in front of two examiners looking at the general handling of the horse, the case history, examination techniques and findings, interpretation of findings and the rationale for treatment and of course the actual skill in treatment.
As you can see, the examination process is extremely rigorous and with an average pass rate of just 25%, only the very competent will qualify and so you can be assured that your horse will receive expert and professional care.
More information is available on the website of the British Equine Veterinary Association www.beva.org.uk and teh website of the BAEDT, www.equinedentistry.org.uk, along with the complete list of the members of the BAEDT.
